How to Kill Weeds in Soil
According to the University of Maine, soil solarization is one of the most effective methods of killing weeds. This process uses direct sunlight to heat the surface of the soil, preventing seeds from sprouting into weeds. Soil solarization can be used to reduce weeds in cooler months as well as in the hottest times of the year. One benefit of using soil solarization is that its an organic technique. There are no toxic chemicals or herbicides needed when using sunlight to kill those pesky weeds in your garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Till your garden's soil before starting the solarization process. Tilling loosens your garden soil and removes dormant seeds on the surface.
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Rake until the soil is as smooth as possible. You want the soil and rooted weeds to be in close contact. Wet soil absorbs heat better than dry soil, so water your lawn until damp (not soggy), if needed.
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Cover the entire area with a plastic tarp. Hold the edges of the tarp down with bricks.The tarp must lie as close to the ground as possible to transfer the sun's heat to the soil. Depending on your climate and how long you leave the tarp on the soil, solarization kills most weeds, seeds and roots in the first inches of soil.
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Place a second plastic tarp over the first to increase the solarization process. Use bricks once again to secure the second tarp to the ground. Sunlight becomes trapped within two tarps, intensifying the temperature transferred into the ground. Remove one tarp to decrease the ground temperature one month before planting crops or flowers in that soil.
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Allow the sun to kill the weeds. In warmer climates, the process may only take a couple of months. In moderate climates, start solarization in the early fall after any flowers or crops have been harvested. Leave the plastic tarp on the soil until spring.
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Spread mulch over the plastic tarps to make them more visually appealing in your yard. The mulch will hide the plastic tarps until you are ready to remove them from the ground.
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Tips & Warnings
In moderate to cooler climates, use black plastic tarps instead of clear. As a dark color, black absorbs more heat from the sun.
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